Branislav Horváth

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of a series of optically active quaternary ammonium salts derived from phenylalanine.

We synthesized nine quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATs) starting from phenylalanine, N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl)-2-ammonium bromides, which were prepared as optically pure substances. Five compounds were prepared as S-enantiomers and four compounds as R-enantiomers. These compounds were evaluated by their activities against bacteria and fungi. Three microbial strains were used in the study: the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and the fungi Candida albicans. The activities were expressed as minimum bactericidal or fungicidal concentrations (MBC). The most active compounds were (2S)-N-tetradecyl-N,N-dimethyl-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl)-2-ammonium bromide and (2R)-N-tetradecyl-N,N-dimethyl-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl)-2-ammonium bromide, with MBC values exceeding those of commercial benzalkoniumbromide (BAB) used as standard. The relationships between structure and biological activity of the tested QUATs were quantified by the bilinear model (QSAR) and are discussed.

Reactions of substituted furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxhydrazides and their biological activity

The reactions of substituted furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxhydrazides 1 with 5-arylfuran-2-carboxaldehydes 2, 4,5-disubstituted furan-2-carboxaldehydes 3 and thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde 4 has been studied. The advantage of microwave irradiation on some of these reactions was reflected in the reduced reaction time and increased yields. Reactions of 1 with 4-substituted 1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones 11 led to diacylhydrazines 13 or to imidazole derivatives 14 depending on the temperature. 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thione 17 was synthesized by two-step reaction of 1 with phenylisothiocyanate and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization of thiosemicarbazide 16. The effects of hydrazones 5–10 on inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport in spinach chloroplasts and chlorophyll content in the antialgal suspensions of Chlorella vulgaris were investigated.

Synthesis, surface and antimicrobial properties of some quaternary ammonium homochiral camphor sulfonamides.

A group of homochiral quaternary ammonium sulfonamides bearing hydrophobic camphor derived moieties were synthesized and characterized. The described synthetic procedure is quick and efficient. The novel quaternary ammonium bromides were tested as antimicrobial and antifungal agents. They exhibited strong antimicrobial and also antifungal activity, especially N-{2-[((1S, 4R)-7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-1-yl)methylsulfonamido] ethyl}-N,N-dimethyltetradecan-1-aminium bromide 1c. The surface properties of prepared compounds were evaluated by surface tension measurements and critical micelle concentration (CMC) with surface tension at CMC (γCMC) was calculated.

Synthesis and reactions of 2-and 4-substituted furo[3,2-c]pyridines

Substituted furopropenoic acids were prepared from appropriate aldehyde under the Doebner’s conditions. Obtained acids were converted to the corresponding azides, which were cyclized by heating in Dowtherm to furopyridones. These compounds were aromatized with phosphorus oxychloride to chloro derivatives of furo[3,2-c]pyridine (Va, Vb). Chloro derivative Vb was reduced with hydrazine hydrate to 2-(4-aminophenyl)furo[3,2-c]pyridine in ethanol and Pd/C as a catalyst. Chloro derivative Va was converted to 4-amino-2-(3-pyridyl)furo[3,2-c]pyridine under the same conditions. The chlorine atom in other chloro derivatives (VIIa, VIIb) was replaced by nucleophilic substitution with alkoxides (sodium ethoxide, propoxide, and isopropoxide) and the corresponding alkoxy derivatives were formed. By reaction of VII with cyclic secondary amines (morpholine, piperidine, and pyrrolidine) 4-substituted furopyridines were prepared.

The synthesis of a hydroazulen-2-one skeleton-determination of the diastereoselectivity of [3+2] cycloaddition of tricarbonyl[(4,5,6,7-η)-2-methyltropone]iron with E/Z-η1-(crotyl)Fp

The diastereoselectivity of [3+2] cycloaddition of tricarbonyl[(4,5,6,7-η)-2-methyltropone]iron (2) with an E,Z isomeric mixture of η1-(crotyl)Fp (4E/4Z) [Fp: C5H5Fe(CO)2 or CpFe(CO)2] has been studied. By this cyclopentaanulation, four stereogenic centres are formed. The reaction occurs regioselectively and stereoselectively. The relative configurations of the cycloadducts 5a, 5b and 5c were assigned on the basis of 2D and NOE NMR experiments. A mechanism for the stereoselective [3+2] cycloaddition has been proposed. The selectivity of the cycloaddition depends on the difference in steric discrimination approaches of the η1-(crotyl)Fp 4E/4Z to the tricarbonyl[(3,4,5,6,7-η)-1-trimethylsilyloxy-2-methyltropylium]iron 3 (repulsion of the methyl and methylene groups of 4 and the planar skeleton of 3) and also upon the isomeric structure (E or Z) of the η1-(crotyl)Fp reactant. The geometrical isomerism of the reagent (4E/4Z) is preserved in the products 5a–c.

Microwave assisted reactions of 2-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-R1-furo[3,2-b] pyrrole-5-carboxhydrazides

The effect of microwave irradiation on the reactions of 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-R1-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxhydrazides 1 with 5-arylfuran-2-carboxaldehydes 2, thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde (3) and methyl 2-formylfuro[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylates 4 has been studied. Reactions of 1 with formic and acetic acid, respectively, led to acylhydrazides 9a–c. Reaction of 1a with 4-substituted 1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one 10 led to imidazole derivative 13. 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thiones 15a,b were synthesized by two-step reaction of 1a with potassium isothiocyanate and phenyl isothiocyanate, respectively, and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization of thiosemicarbazides 14a,b. Pyrazole 16 was prepared by reaction of 1a with pentane-2,4-dione.

Improved isolation of betulin and lupeol from birch bark and oxidation of their acetylated derivatives with chromyl chloride

An improved method of isolation of betulin and lupeol from birch bark is developed and reported. The method afforded triterpenes with purity of 98.2% (betulin) and 96.3% (lupeol), respectively. Chromyl chloride was also investigated as an oxidating agent of O-acetylated betulin and lupeol. The transformation of isopropenyl moiety to aldehyde group was observed.Graphical abstract

CAN-based oxidative annulation of alkenols with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

A mild protocol for the reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with a range of alkenols mediated by CAN was described. The oxidative free radical cyclization leading to corresponding dihydrofuran derivatives tolerated the presence of hydroxyl group.Graphical abstract

Synthesis of Phosphonium Salts—Phosphine Structure and Inorganic Salts Effects

Solvent-free reactions of 2- and 3-halopyridines with PPh 3 , PBu 3 , and PCy 3 were studied under conventional heating, as well as under microwave irradiation. No difference was observed in the reaction course between classical and microwave reactions. 2-Bromopyridine gave quantitative yields of 2-pyridyltriphenylphosphonium bromide within few minutes at 190°C. Equimolar amounts of some inorganic salts (LiPF 6 , LiOTf, LiBr, NaPF 6 , KPF 6 ) were necessary for the reactions of the other 2-halopyridines. 3-Halopyridines did not react with PPh 3 even in the presence of LiPF 6 . Their reactions with PCy 3 in the presence of LiPF 6 resulted in the quantitative formation of dicyclohexylphosphine oxide.